Longest "Continuously Posted" Distance Sign

[Verlanka]

I'm also reminded of this sign that I posted in the forum back in 2011. Spring 1983, I-40 westbound at the TX/NM line. It's long gone now, alas.



(The original photo I posted is also long gone, thanks to dead websites. I just found the original SX-70 print and rescanned it, but nine more years haven't been kind to it.)

I'm not sure if LA is continuously posted past that.

In that case, it doesn't count since it's not "continuously posted."

[michravera]

The farthest distance I've ever personally seen on a mileage sign is the 551 miles to Reno from Summit Park, Utah on I-80. With a few exceptions, Reno is more or less continuously posted on distance signs throughout Utah (haven't been westbound on I-80 in Nevada recently enough to remember what signage is like there).

My rules for "continuously posted" are designed to allow this, if NVDoT alternates between Battle Mountain and Reno and then Winnemuca and Reno, for instance. If NVDot more or less consistently posts the distance to Salt Lake along I-80, I can't think of any reason that they wouldn't post the distance to Reno!

I know that Los Angeles shows up at least just outside of Sacramento on I-5 and CASR-99 and just outside of San Jose (at least south of Gilroy and CASR-152)  on US-101 (which would be longer) and is "continuously posted" thereafter. As far as I remember, along CASR-1 (which is probably the longest direct route between San Francisco and Los Angeles) distance signs don't mention Los Angeles north of Santa Barbara at all.

My question is how continuously Portland is posted north of Sacramento (which would beat your 551, if it is). Your Reno sign might well be a winner (at least in the contiguous US).

[hobsini2]

Chicago is also frequently posted on I-57 northbound as far as the Missouri bootheel, maybe even farther. Distances up to 400 miles.

Officially the first mileage sign on I-57 outside of Sikeston MO says Chicago is 395 miles.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8775541,-89.5214429,3a,75y,59.06h,73.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSG-H0u2JLTcrEZq82xShKQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

[Rothman]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

[jeffandnicole]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

[3467]

How about posted almost all along the route ? I am thinking Indianapolis on 74. Not including the split segment in NC.
Also with 41 north of Evansville it might not fit this but it might make a longest mileage on a non interstate?

[hobsini2]

How about posted almost all along the route ? I am thinking Indianapolis on 74. Not including the split segment in NC.
Also with 41 north of Evansville it might not fit this but it might make a longest mileage on a non interstate?

Indianapolis is first mentioned on I-74 Eastbound after US 150/IL 97 at Exit 54. The mileage is 243 miles.

[Rothman]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

[Roadgeekteen]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

You have to be blind, sarcastic, trolling, or a mix of the three.

[kphoger]

There's a [troll] [/troll] tag, but it doesn't display for anyone except the person using it.

[csw]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

You have to be blind, sarcastic, trolling, or a mix of the three.

There's also a sign for Barstow, CA in Wilmington, NC, at the start of I-40.

[Roadgeekteen]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

You have to be blind, sarcastic, trolling, or a mix of the three.

There's also a sign for Barstow, CA in Wilmington, NC, at the start of I-40.

Not continuously posted though.

[kphoger]

For the non-troll members, here are the basic qualifications:

1.  Starting from the sign you post, at least 36% of all distance signs on that road must include the same destination city you post.  (This means it counts if only every other sign uses that city, but it doesn't count if only one out of every three does.)

2.  No entire state or other sub-national equivalent along the way can be completely devoid of such qualifying signage.

3.  Rule #2 does not apply if the route only passes through that state for less than 50 km.

[kphoger]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

You have to be blind, sarcastic, trolling, or a mix of the three.

There's also a sign for Barstow, CA in Wilmington, NC, at the start of I-40.

Not continuously posted though.

I'm pretty sure that sign has been posted continuously ever since it was erected.  If not, then almost.

[csw]

There used to be a 781 mile to San Francisco mileage sign on I-80.

I can completely believe you. But, we don't, for the purposes of this thread, care about *a* 781 mile sign anymore than we care about a Capetown distance sign in Rabat. There are plenty of one-off or novelty signs that indicate vast distances. We are looking for "continuously posted."

Oh.

There's a sign for Sacramento on US 50 as it leaves Ocean City, MD.

You are really not comprehending what "continuously posted" means.

There's a sign in Bishop, CA for Provincetown, MA on US 6.

You have to be blind, sarcastic, trolling, or a mix of the three.

There's also a sign for Barstow, CA in Wilmington, NC, at the start of I-40.

Not continuously posted though.

Ok, fine. There's also a sign at the other end indicating the mileage back to Wilmington.

[kphoger]

A real troll would try to find out what sign could be posted in the most consecutive number of replies.

[webny99]

For the non-troll members, here are the basic qualifications:

1.  Starting from the sign you post, at least 36% of all distance signs on that road must include the same destination city you post.  (This means it counts if only every other sign uses that city, but it doesn't count if only one out of every three does.)
2.  No entire state or other sub-national equivalent along the way can be completely devoid of such qualifying signage.
3.  Rule #2 does not apply if the route only passes through that state for less than 50 km.

NYC is posted on 100% of Thruway mileage signs starting 496 miles away. I think that makes it an automatic winner. I would say anything less than 50% or even 75%, is kind of lame. I could differ from the OP on this, but to me, "continuously posted" really does mean 100%, no exceptions.

[ilpt4u]

Chicago is also frequently posted on I-57 northbound as far as the Missouri bootheel, maybe even farther. Distances up to 400 miles.

Officially the first mileage sign on I-57 outside of Sikeston MO says Chicago is 395 miles.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8775541,-89.5214429,3a,75y,59.06h,73.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSG-H0u2JLTcrEZq82xShKQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

If/when the upgrade to US 60/67 in MO and AR bringing I-57 to Little Rock occurs, I wonder how far south Chicago will be used as the NB Control and on the NB distance signage...Leaving Little Rock is certainly plausible

And on the flipside, will Little Rock take the place of Memphis as the SB Control leaving Chicago thru IL and MO, someday? With the SB distance signage all changed as well?

Hopefully we will find out in the next 10 years or so!

[Revive 755]

^ I suspect I-57 will keep Memphis as a control city in Illinois (I don't see Illinois being eager to change all the signs, based on things went with I-41), with Little Rock not making an appearance until the interchange with I-55 in Missouri.  Though it would not surprise me either if Little Rock didn't appear until Poplar Bluff.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Chicago is also frequently posted on I-57 northbound as far as the Missouri bootheel, maybe even farther. Distances up to 400 miles.

Officially the first mileage sign on I-57 outside of Sikeston MO says Chicago is 395 miles.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8775541,-89.5214429,3a,75y,59.06h,73.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSG-H0u2JLTcrEZq82xShKQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

If/when the upgrade to US 60/67 in MO and AR bringing I-57 to Little Rock occurs, I wonder how far south Chicago will be used as the NB Control and on the NB distance signage...Leaving Little Rock is certainly plausible

And on the flipside, will Little Rock take the place of Memphis as the SB Control leaving Chicago thru IL and MO, someday? With the SB distance signage all changed as well?

Hopefully we will find out in the next 10 years or so!

What’s most likely going to happen:

Drivers on I-57 southbound won’t likely see any mentions of Little Rock until after passing I-55 (maybe before I-55 after US 60 merges in with I-57...and even then, it would most likely be on the distance signs before showing up on BGS’s). Conversely, I-57 northbound from Little Rock will likely be given St. Louis to start, with mentions of Chicago probably starting after US 67 leaves the freeway (on distance signs, but not yet on BGS’s until passing I-55).

Basically, I see I-57 given the same role from Little Rock northeast as it currently is from Chicago southwest: given a major I-55 control city while bypassing other cities I-55 runs through.

EDIT: I do see Poplar Bluff mentioned as a double up with Little Rock at the I-55 interchange, with distance signs mentioning both cities, while I-57 southbound entry points between I-55 and Poplar Bluff give PB the priority.

[michravera]

For the non-troll members, here are the basic qualifications:

1.  Starting from the sign you post, at least 36% of all distance signs on that road must include the same destination city you post.  (This means it counts if only every other sign uses that city, but it doesn't count if only one out of every three does.)

2.  No entire state or other sub-national equivalent along the way can be completely devoid of such qualifying signage.

3.  Rule #2 does not apply if the route only passes through that state for less than 50 km.

Pretty Close!
I was even willing to let the distance posting miss a whole COUNTRY for less than 50 km. The idea is that some road that only clips a jurisdiction or a short section in one jurisdiction that makes a policy of not posting cities outside of the jurisdiction wouldn't necessarily disqualify it.

The 36% requirement was for signs with two or more cities. So, if the distance posted is just to the next city, it doesn't count against the total. It's entirely reasonable to be continuously posting a more distant city and leave it off of a sign that only shows the next city or two a couple times.

The idea was that alternating was OK. It was also OK, if even some of the alternating signs with two or more cities miss. My take was that once the posting rate got below about 36% one wouldn't reasonably say that it is continuously posted. Ocean City is posted along US-50 starting in West Sacramento. It misses over 150 km in California, all of Nevada, and probably most of the next 8 or 10 states before turning up again about half-way through Maryland. I think of 36% as roughly where the line between "continuously posted" and "frequently mentioned" lies.

Look! If someone has a candidate that is only 32% that they think of as "continuously posted" and doesn't miss vast sections, I'd like to hear about it.

The unverified contiguous US contenders so far are "Reno on WB I-80 showing up at 551 miles" and "Portland on NB I-5 showing up at 632 miles". The reason that I am saying that these are "unverified" is that no one has yet given even a personal assertion that these are "continuously posted".  Both of us who have mentioned our signs haven't driven or ridden the portion sufficiently often that would give us the right to make the assertion with any better certitude than "I think so".

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

How about posted almost all along the route ? I am thinking Indianapolis on 74. Not including the split segment in NC.
Also with 41 north of Evansville it might not fit this but it might make a longest mileage on a non interstate?

Indianapolis is first mentioned on I-74 Eastbound after US 150/IL 97 at Exit 54. The mileage is 243 miles.

If you include the mileage for I-74 Westbound, out of Cincy, there is another 95 miles (from I-75 to I-465 SE), so it would be a combined 338 miles.

[michravera]

How about posted almost all along the route ? I am thinking Indianapolis on 74. Not including the split segment in NC.
Also with 41 north of Evansville it might not fit this but it might make a longest mileage on a non interstate?

Indianapolis is first mentioned on I-74 Eastbound after US 150/IL 97 at Exit 54. The mileage is 243 miles.

If you include the mileage for I-74 Westbound, out of Cincy, there is another 95 miles (from I-75 to I-465 SE), so it would be a combined 338 miles.

I didn't actually say that the road couldn't change names. I think that we allow "continuously posted" along any reasonable route (not just one sign where you can loop through and see).

[3467]

That's what I was thinking Hot Rod. It's all but the last 47 miles of the route. Indy is included to 90 percent of the route. If we did a thread this sort of thing would be dominated by the shorter 2 digits.

[Flint1979]

It's not a far distance but Owosso is included on the sign north of I-69 on M-13. Owosso isn't on M-13, you have to make a left on M-21 to go to Owosso.